The many local governments in the Washington region take actions every day that affect our downtowns and neighborhoods and the quality of life in our cities and counties. Greater Greater Washington writes about the public policies that influence our region and how they promote (or prevent) a growing, inclusive region with walkable urban neighborhoods.

Many different types of public policy influence where and how people live, work, and play. Education, which is one of the biggest reasons people choose a place,can help ensure the success of the next generation. And the environment is vital to preserving a livable region for our descendants.

Public safety and social justice issues affect how people of different backgrounds interact in our public places and whether people feel welcome. Health, food, and jobs are all vital parts of making our region thrive. And our governments make many budgetary and fiscal decisions that shape all of this.

After World War II, white Americans moved to suburban communities that explicitly barred black people, while many men continued to commute to their jobs in the city. But advances in civil rights, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, meant that workplaces became increasingly diverse. Keep reading…

In 2005, Malissa Freese took an eye-opening trip in search of a new home. Coming off DC’s Interstate 295, she hit the block of Benning Road NE that houses a Pepco facility and made a left turn on Anacostia Avenue into River Terrace, a cul-de-sac neighborhood that sits along the Anacostia River (where, full disclosure, this writer grew up). Keep reading…

Capital Bikeshare was one of the first successful bikesharing systems set up in the United States, and is still one of the largest systems in the country. Now the system has added electric bicycles for the first time as dockless bike and (especially) scooter sharing has grown over the past year. Keep reading…

In case you haven't heard, there are some important elections coming up in Fairfax County. The county's Board of Supervisors will have a lot of open seats up for grabs, and candidates are already lining up. In the Braddock District, that includes a race between two Democrats looking to flip one of the Board's two seats held by Republicans. Keep reading…

As we noted earlier, the District’s fiscal year begins October 1. Each October, just as one fiscal year is starting, officials start intensely planning for next year’s budget. In other words, budgeting is a year-round process in DC. There is involvement from the Mayor and the executive branch, the DC Council, the city’s Chief Financial Officer, and residents and interest groups. Keep reading…

Has a longtime member of the Arlington Democratic establishment solidly represented Northern Virginia at the state legislature in Richmond, or is there need for new blood? Voters in Virginia State Senate District 31 will answer that question on June 11 when incumbent Barbara Favola faces challenger Nicole Merlene. Keep reading…

Let’s say you’re a devoted user of your neighborhood library. You want to make sure your branch continues to be open on evenings and weekends, that children’s story hour happens, and that New York Times bestsellers get stocked at your branch. You want to advocate for the library system at city hall—known in DC as the John A. Wilson Building. What do you do? Keep reading…

Public transportation. Community centers. Drivers’ licenses. Cash assistance to help families make ends meet. Trash collection. Affordable housing. Teachers, police officers, and firefighters. Library books. All are made possible in the District of Columbia through one thing: the city’s annual budget. Keep reading…

If a homeowner wants to put solar panels on a roof facing a street, is that a laudable step toward fighting climate change or an affront to historic preservation? With a recent preservation board ruling, DC's historic preservation system took one very small step toward tolerance of visible solar panels, at least in some cases. Keep reading…

Elections are happening all over Fairfax County this year, and at least four seats are open on the county's Board of Supervisors. In the Hunter Mill District, home to both Reston and Vienna, current member Cathy Hudgins is retiring. The three declared candidates, thus far, all have platforms which argue the county has been too favorable to development in Reston. Keep reading…

The Board of Supervisors holds immense power in Fairfax County, and its elections are extremely important. Because there are no term limits, it’s possible for the board to comprise the same people for decades. This makes it important to choose candidates who will be pro-transit and pro-housing, especially affordable housing. Keep reading…

A Montgomery County delegate has just submitted a bill that would prevent landlords from evicting tenants without a good reason. That's good news for the approximately one third of county residents who are renters. Keep reading…

Often, Montgomery County’s public transit system seems like a poorly-executed retrofit to a car-centered community. This is especially true during snowstorms. While roads get lots of attention and people demand that they get cleared quickly, bus kiosks often get buried or blocked completely. Metro stations often become inaccessible by foot due to uncleared sidewalks. Keep reading…

Anyone who is raising a kid in the Washington region—and probably many people who aren’t—know that paying for daycare can cost as much as rent. Arlington County has the highest child-care costs in the region, largely because we have high land values, tighter regulations, and affluent households. Keep reading…

It's about to get much easier to request repairs for broken equipment at DC public schools and recreation centers. In this year’s budget, the DC Council fully funded the addition of DC Public Schools (DCPS) and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) facility maintenance requests to the city’s existing 311 system. Keep reading…

In 2019, the main political action (besides early jockeying for the US presidential nomination) is in Virginia, where the state House and Senate are on the ballot as well as many county supervisors. There are also elections in some Maryland municipalities. Keep reading…

Don’t be fooled by its homely appearance, the empty lot at 3601 M St NW in Georgetown (formerly an Exxon station) is one of the hottest pieces of real estate in town. It’s also now the centerpiece of a historic preservation decision that could have far-reaching consequences. Keep reading…